Hydraulic door closer



July 22, 1969 E. H EAsnN 3,456,282

' HYDE/mmc noon Cmsm Filed Oct. u, 1967 \\\\\\\\\\Y\\\\\\\\ AN United States Patent O 3,456,282 HYDRAULIC DOOR CLOSER Edward H. Eastin, 254 Retman Court, Rochester, Mich. 48063 Filed Oct. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 673,378

Int. Cl. E05f 3/10 U.S. Cl. 16-52 22 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The hydraulic door closer disclosed herein comprises a cylinder, a piston with a piston shaft extending outwardly from one end of the cylinder and a spring yieldingly urging the piston inwardly of the cylinder. The piston has a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial openings and a carrier is iixed to the piston and has closure members thereon. When the piston is moved inwardly of the cylinder under the action of the spring, the carrier with the closure members thereon is compressed to bring the closure members successively in registry with the openings and thereby restrict the iiow of duid through the openings. A one-way valve on the piston is operable to permit free flow of hydraulic uid past the piston when the piston is moved outwardly of the cylinder. An expandable sleeve is provided around the piston shaft to provide a variable reservoir for fluid in the area surrounding the shaft. Means are provided for varying lthe size of the openings through the piston.

Background of the invention This invention relates to hydraulic door closers.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a hydraulic door closer which is relatively simple, dependable and will provide smooth closing of a door; which will also function to absorb the sudden forces on the door due to Wind and the like.

Description of the drawings FIG. l is a part sectional view of a hydraulic door closer embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lthe line 2-2 in (FIG. l.

PIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modified form of the invention.

Description Referring to FIG. l, the door closer embodying the invention comprises a cylinder 11 having ends 12, 13 press tted therein with O-rings y14 forming seals. A piston 15 is mounted for reciprocating movement within the cylinder and has a piston rod 16 that extends outwardly through an opening in the cylinder end :12. A bracket 17 is pivoted, as presently described, to the piston rod 16 for attaching the door closer to a door frame or jamb and a bracket 18 is pivoted :to the end 13 for attaching the cylinder to a door.

The end 12 includes a plastic bearing 19 for slidably supporting the piston rod 16. The bearing 19` and the end 12 define an annular channel 20. This channel is vented to the interior of the cylinder and to lthe atmosphere by diametrically opposed axial openings 21, 22 for reasons presently described.

An expendable sleeve 23 has one end thereof xed to a hub 12a on the end .12 by a band 12b and the other end thereof fixed to a hub 15a on the piston by a band 15b.

3,456,282 Patented July 22, 1969 ICC A compression spring 24 surrounds the expandable sleeve 23 and is interposed between the piston 15 and the end 12.

In the position shown in FIG. l, the spring 24 is fully compressed corresponding to a position wherein the door is open. In this position, the air vented to the interior of the expandable sleeve 23 holds the wall portion 25 outwardly generally as shown in FIG. 1. When the piston moves inwardly of the cylinder under the action of the spring 24, the flexible wall 25 is stretched reducing the air space size and increasing the size of the space about the iiexible wall 25 to provide space for uid from beneath the piston to move upwardly above the piston and thereby compensate for the volume of the piston shaft 16. The piston 15 has radial projections 26 against which the spring 24 bears.

The piston 15 further includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial passages 27. A disc 28 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial openings 28a is provided beneath the piston 15 and is rotatably adjustable relative thereto to vary the flow of fluid axially through the piston. The periphery of the disc 28 cooperates with the piston 15 to form an axially extending annular passage in which an O-ring 29 is provided. The O-ring 29 opeartes when the piston is moved inwardly of 4the cylinder to form a one-way check valve preventing ow of fluid around the periphery of the piston. When the piston is moved upwardly or outwardly relative to the cylinder, the O-ring moves downwardly permitting flow of nid freely about the periphery of the piston from above the piston toward the lower end of the cylinder.

The disc 28 is held in adjusted position by a construction which includes a shaft 30 that is fixed to the disc and extends upwardly through the opening 16a of the piston shaft through the free upper ends of the piston shaft. A cross pin on the upper end of the adjustment shaft 30 engages the upper end of the piston shaft 16. By grasping the cross pin 33, the adjustment shaft 30 and, in turn, the disc 28 can be rotated. The adjustment shaft 30 is locked in adjusted position relative to the piston shaft by an arrangement which includes Screws 36 that are 4threaded inwardly into engagement with an 0- ring 35. Another O-ring 34 in a groove in the adjustment shaft 30 provides a fluid seal beneath O-ring 35, as viewed in FIG. 3. The heads of the screws 36 are enlarged and form the pivot to the bracket 17 as shown in FIG. 3.

A carrier 31 in the form of a spiral spring has one end thereof iixed to the adjustment shaft 30 and the other end thereof extending downwardly and fixed to a secondary piston 39. The carrier rotatably supports a plurality of closure members or balls 37 in substantial axial alignment with openings 28a so that when in operation, the carrier is compressed bringing the closure members successively into contact with the openings 28a and progressively retarding the liow of duid from beneath the piston to the area above the piston.

The piston 39 has a one-way check valve 40 therein so that in the cases of a sudden gust of wind or the like tending to close the door or an intentional quick closing movement of the door, the closure 40 is closed entrapping fluid between the pistons 39 and cylinder end .13 thereby providing intermediate opeartion of the carrier at that time rather than at the end of the stroke.

In normal operation, when a door is open, the spring 24 is compressed and the fluid is forced from above the piston as viewed in FIG. 1 to the area beneath the piston through the openings 27, 28a as well as about the periphery of the piston. When the door is released, the spring 24 tends to return the piston and piston shaft to their original position, namely, inwardly of the cylinder. As this occurs the one-way valve formed by O-ring 29 closes.

As the door closes, the piston 39 will engage the bottom of the cylinder. Upon further movement the carrier 31 will become compressed bringing the balls 37 successively into contact with their respective openings in the disc 28 to progressively restrict the ow of uid from the area beneath the piston to the area above the piston and thereby provide a harmonic stop. As the Huid ows upwardly as viewed in FIG. 1, the fluid will displace the air from the interior of the expandable sleeve 23 illing the area surrounding the sleeve.

In the'form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the piston S has sheet metal parts 54, 55 and a lightweight coil spring 52 is utilized for urging the O-ring 51 against the piston to provide the one-way control of liuid about the periphery of the piston. Spring 52 abuts against secondary piston 53.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the openings in the piston 65 are engaged by a Single closure mem- /ber 61 in the form of a resilient body on the carrier which progressively engages the openings to produce the desired restricting action. Other forms of carriers and closure members may be used as disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 659,364, tiled Aug. 9, 1967.

I claim:

1. In a vhydraulic door closer, the combination comprising a cylinder,

a piston mounted for reciprocating motion within said cylinder,

said piston having a piston rod extending through one end of the cylinder,

means on said rod and said cylinder for mounting said rod and said cylinder on a door jamb and door, spring means for yieldingly urging said piston inwardly of said cylinder,

means operable to restrict the flow of uid from the side of said piston to the other when the piston is moved inwardly and to permit the relatively free flow of uid from one side of the piston to the other when the piston is moved outwardly relative to the cylinder,

said piston having a plurality of openings therethrough,

a carrier interposed between said piston and the end of said cylinder opposite said rod,

closure means supported by said carrier and operable upon inward movement of said piston under the action of said spring means to successively engage said openings in said piston to restrict the ow of fluid through said piston.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said carrier comprises a spiral member.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said closure means comprises a ball.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said closure means comprises a plurality of balls.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said closure means comprises a complementary curved member progressively engaging said opening.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a tubular exible wall surrounding said piston rod,

means for fixing one end of said wall to said cylinder and means for fixing the other end of said wall to said piston.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said spring means comprises a spring surrounding said piston and interposed between said piston and said one end of said cylinder through which said piston rod extends.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said end of said cylinder through which said piston rod extends includes axially spaced and circumferentially spaced generally axially extending openings with an intervening arcuate space connecting said openings whereby the interior of said flexible Wall is bent to the atmosphere.

9. The combination Set forth in claim 1 including means for adjusting the size of said axial openings in said piston.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said means comprises a disc having axial openings therethrough and means for adjusting the position of said disc circumferentially of said piston.

`11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises an adjusting shaft extending axially through said piston rod,

and means for adjusting the position of said shaft relative to said piston rod and, in turn, said piston.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises means for frictionally engaging said adjusting shaft and locking in position relative to said piston shaft.

13. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said door closer includes an auxiliary piston in the space between said piston and the end of said cylinder opposite that through which the piston rod extends, said auxiliary piston being connected to said carrier,

said auxiliary piston having a one-Way valve therein operable upon sudden movement of the main piston inwardly of the cylinder to close and entrap uid between the auxiliary piston and cylinder end.

14. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said first-mentioned restricting means comprises an O-ring,

said piston having means thereon operable upon axial movement of said O-ring to cause engagement of said O-ring with the sides of the wall of the cylinder and operable upon movement in the opposite direction to permit said O-ring to move away lfrom the sides of the wall of said cylinder.

15. The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein said piston is made of sheet metal.

16. In a hydraulic door closer, the combination comprising y a cylinder,

'a piston mounted for reciprocating motion within said cylinder,

said piston having a piston rod extending through one end of the cylinder,

means on said rod and said cylinder for mounting said rod and said cylinder on a door jamb and door,

means operable to restrict the flow of Huid from one side of said piston to the other when the piston is moved inwardly and to permit the relatively free llow of uid from one side of the piston to the other when the piston is moved outwardly relative to the cylinder,

spring means for yieldingly urging said piston inwardly of said cylinder,

. said piston having an opening therethrough,

a closure supported by said piston and operable upon inwardly movement of said piston under the action of said spring means to restrict the flow of lluid through openings in said piston,

a tubular liexible wall surrounding said piston rod,

means for fixing one end of said wall to said cylinder.

17. The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said spring means comprises a spring surrounding said piston and interposed between said piston and said one end of said cylinder through which said piston rod extends.

18. The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein said end of said cylinder through which said piston rod extends includes axially spaced and circumferentially spaced generally axially extending openings with an intervening arcuate space connecting said opening whereby the interior of said flexible wall is bent to the atmosphere.

. 19. In a hydraulic door closer, the combination comprislng a cylinder,

'a piston mounted for reciprocating motion within said cylinder,

said piston having a piston rod extending through one end of the cylinder,

means on said rod and said cylinder `for mounting said rod and said cylinder on a door jamb and door,

spring means for yieldingly urging said piston inwardly of said cylinder,

means operable to restrict the ow of fluid from one side of said piston to the other when the piston is moved inwardly and to permit the relatively free How of iiuid from one side of the piston to the other when the piston is moved outwardly relative to the cylinder,

said piston having openings therethrough,

a closure supported by said piston and operable upon inwardly movement of said piston under the action of said spring means to restrict the flow of fluid through said piston, and means for fixing the other end of said wall to said piston,

means for adjusting the size of said axial opening in said piston comprising a disc having an opening therethrough and means for `adjusting the position of said disc circumferentially of said piston.

20. The combination set forth in claim 19 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises an adjusting shaft extending axially through said piston rod,

and `means for -adjusting the position of said shaft relative to said piston rod and, in turn, said piston. 21. The combination set forth in claim 20 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises means for frictionally engaging said adjusting shaft and locking in position relative to said piston shaft.

22. In a hydraulic door closer, the combination comprrsmg a cylinder, a piston mounted for reciprocating motion within said cylinder,

said piston having a piston rod extending through one end of the cylinder,

means on said rod and said cylinder for mounting said rod and said cylinder on a door jamb and door,

spring means for yieldingly urging said piston inwardly of said cylinder,

means operable to restrict the ow of iiuid from one side of said piston to the other when the piston is moved inwardly and to permit the relatively free flow of fluid from one side of the piston to the other when the piston is moved outwardly relative to the cylinder,

said piston having `an opening therethrough,

a closure supported by said piston and operable upon inwardly movement of said piston under the action of said spring means to restrict the flow of uid through said piston,

an auxiliary piston in the space between said piston and the end of said cylinder opposite that through which the piston rod extends,

said auxiliary piston being connected to said carrier,

said auxiliary piston having a one-way valve therein operable upon sudden movement of the main piston inwardly of the cylinder to close and `entrap Huid between the auxiliary piston and cylinder end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,205,433 11/ 1916 Christman 16-51 3,216,050 11/1965 Whelan 16-52 3,218,052 11/1965 Peterson --i 188-96 X BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner J. L. KOHNEN, Assistant Examiner 

